Warm days are here and sand continues to be a theme, wedged into most of my belongings. This is the time when I shake out my tote bags and am perplexed by the contents below deck. Sand, bobby pins, tiny jars of Maldon salt. It’s all there. I’m dusting off the linen, gaining freckles by the minute, and doing a deep clean of whites. If you are too, here are some tips.
Last Spring I picked up various chino styles from Polo that replicated in my closet quickly. I’m currently cleaning five pairs of the same white chino shorts, bought in two sizes for loose and slightly baggy options. (I’m 5’7 and buy a 2 and a 4) I stocked up after the first pair proved to be a wardrobe essential on unbearably hot, coastal days.
Chino shorts are notably one of the least forgiving styles on women, and one I’d always avoided. But Polo made this wonderfully flattering pair with just enough length, volume and flair. I wear them with a loose white linen camp collar shirt, a leather belt, and Belgians or boat shoes. A navy double breasted blazer takes the look to casual seaside dinner. A linen safari jacket is perfect for breezy nights. A bathing suit pairs well for hot beach days.
Their women’s chino pants are also good. I’m wearing a pair now with unstructured suede loafers. I prefer them to the more popular Ricky Pant, which I find almost sweatpant-like and a bit too soft.
Boat shoe mania has given way to fisherman sandals. This style generally looks better on men, and it takes a certain swagger, or genuine knot tying skills, for anyone to really pull it off. The only person I’ve seen look truly incredible in them is Jonas Sundstrom of J.Mueser, who could make a potato sack look great. I bought a pair after seeing him wear them with a linen suit in Florence, and I did not carry them off nearly as well.
Boat shoes are more versatile. And you can sail in them. It’s better to have a trusted pair than a trendy pair from Miu Miu. My Sperrys have lasted over 20 years, surviving sailing adventures and a lot of saltwater. I’m not sure they’re made the same way now, but that’s a solid record. Women’s options have always been limited, but recently they’ve expanded. L.L. Bean reissued their timeless women’s moc. The black Sebago Portland and Quoddy Blucher have a Goth Prep feel, which, for anyone new here, is what I call black editions of preppy clothes. They also reintroduced the Owen (EU & UK) and this appealing brown edition. Paraboot makes a classic. Rancourt continues their Maine-made men’s styles, and they’re a great brand to support. I buy archival Sebago Campsides secondhand (usually unworn) because they discontinued the women’s version.
I wore mine with a relaxed suit to the River Cafe Cafe recently, the more approachable alternative to the main restaurant (The River Cafe) at a fraction of the price. Afterwards, I walked along the Thames and watched the rowers go by.
I’ve always wanted to join The Sailing Collective’s journeys around Italy and Croatia. Many friends have loved their sailing courses in Manhattan on the Hudson. It’s such a nice way to experience the city from a different angle. They launched a New York series aboard a boat with Kennedy appeal, as part of Sail250, happening this summer up the East Coast. I profiled them years ago for J.Crew, but maybe I’ll finally get on board.
Paula Rubenstein launched a textile collaboration with Amanda Brooks at her Lower East Side shop, repurposing archival fabrics into pillows for the ideal coastal home. The result is lovely, as one might expect from two women with incredible taste. They also used the scraps to sew quilt-like editions, and considering the steep price of modern pillows, I think having a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind piece is a wonderful gift.
Barena Venezia caught my attention with their maritime lookbook of nautical shirts, loose suits and berets, and women’s “trouser denim” that are very appealing. Especially the berets!
Lately it seems like all luxury travel routes lead back to a pre-digital coastal and suburban childhood. Everywhere I turn, there are new trips and retreats built around reconnecting with nature. The sea, the trees, the earth without an iPhone. And experiencing the luxury of boredom. With infinite stimulation available at all times, boredom has become somewhat of an extravagance. I could spend hours just watching trees move in the wind, or the waves as they crash onto the shore, or staring into space on a long walk. But lives are busier now, and there’s always something to look down at—which is exactly what everyone’s trying to escape. From forest bathing and distance walking to learning new skills, the common element is presence.
These are all pretty simple, accessible ways of experiencing the world and not dissimilar from the summers I spent as a kid in seaside towns where capsizing boats and wading through muddy creeks felt exciting. I’d lay on the dock in boredom and feel the river move under me. I would do anything for those days now, and clearly many others would too.
I’ve been reconstructing my life to resemble those days more closely. Or at least elements of them. Calmer, closer to nature, with less distraction, and less keeping up. Tuning out feels more aligned, and rare. Wearing boat shoes with decades of wear from the sea, and walking along it in rolled up chinos, feels pretty good too.
*If you’re Spring cleaning, seeking a good trench, or looking for a place to stare at the sea, here are some ideas.
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